The Hour of Power came back with a vengeance last night! It was standing room only at Paul's house last night as we welcomed a few new faces to our weekly TV Group and also celebrated my Girlfriend's birthday.(Happy birthday baby!!)
Real quick before I get to the show recaps let me just say that difference between Summer Josh (who had nothing to do for three months) and Autumn Josh (football, fantasy football, new TV shows, etc.) is immeasurable.
And I was definitely on system overload yesterday as The Killers debuted their new single "Human" from their upcoming album (click here to listen - just make sure you have the volume turned up when you get to the page) and our TV Group reconvened for new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother".
I would have taken half of that day just once over the summer.
Both episodes were great, but - and I can't believe I'm saying this - "Big Bang" really brought it and for the first time ever, was the general consensus winner of the night.
Some thoughts on "Big Bang":
- They took their momentum from after the writers' strike and really added to it with this premiere. The characters showed some growth at the end of last season, and that came into play and helped (or hindered, as the case may be) them in facing new obstacles that could only occur because of said growth - EXACTLY what you need to see from a show in its second season.
- I was a little surprised that the big hang-up between Leonard and Penny was that she didn't feel smart enough for him. Really? I'm not going to complain too much because it unleashed Sheldon at his neurotic best - and accomplished it without the entire episode having to revolve around Sheldon (that's where they get bogged down sometimes).
- Was that the first time we've seen Rajesh's apartment?
- I know I'm just kicking a dead horse at this point, but I'd still like to see these characters operate in just one "Frasier"-esque situation. All of the comedy from "Big Bang" comes from the characters verbal or physical actions. We've yet to see them act or react in a creatively constructed situation - and I'm not talking about a wacky "Three's Company" misunderstanding; I'm talking about an well-developed, intricately woven "Frasier" episode like "The Matchmaker", "The Innkeepers" or "The Ski Lodge". "The Matchmaker" was the third episode of season two on "Frasier" so I'm still holding out hope...
Some thoughts about "HIMYM":
- The #1 Reason why I have loved "HIMYM" from day one is that I have never been able to figure out what's going on from episode to episode. They've always kept me off-kilter and on my toes and I've always just sat back and enjoyed it as it unfolds - just like real life.
Yeah, that wasn't the case so much last night.
- First of all, wake me up when Dr. Elliot Reid is gone. We all know she's not the mother (at least we're really, really, really hoping she's not) and these episodes that just delay the inevitable are insulting. Can you imagine being Ted's kids and your dad just wasted a Saturday of your life telling you the story of how his ex-fiance didn't like "Star Wars"? Speaking of, they've been dating all summer and Stella didn't know what his favorite movie was? I lead with stuff like that when MEETING new people, and he waits until they're engaged?.
- And all the plot points were strangely very predictable. It got to the point where Paul was calling out every beat before it happened. "She's allergic to Peanuts!" "She actually hated the movie!" "Barney still sleeps with the waitress!" You shouldn't be able to do that a solid ep of "HIMYM".
- I know Carter and Craig were trying to pull off some artistic gender juxtaposition as Barney and Ted displayed stereotypical female characteristics while Robin and Stella demonstrated traditional male attributes (the "motorboat" and "losing wood" lines from the girls took it to the painfully obvious) but I have to think that the overall comedy suffered from it. This was literally the first time that "HIMYM" got out-laughed by "Big Bang" in our TV Group. Never thought I'd see the day.
- I want to see demented Barney wind up with Robin; not nice, caring Barney. It's their insecurities and inadequacies that make them work together.
(And while we are here, HOW DID NEIL PATRICK HARRIS NOT WIN THE SUPPORTING ACTOR EMMY?? I'm a huge "Entourage" fan and I'm a huge Jeremy Piven fan, but there's no way you will ever get me to concede that Piven was better than Harris last season. The Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama award to Zeljko Ivanek from "Damages" over Ted Danson and William Shattner based on actual performance rather than the name so I'm still confused as to how Piven won over Harris. Oh, and did you see that I got seven out of 11 picks right in my Emmy predictions? I'm very proud of calling "Mad Men" and the big night for "30 Rock". I boycotted the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy so that one shouldn't count and I said that Bryan Cranston should win, so that's like half credit or something. And I was wrong about the five hosts not taking away anything from the telecast - they were terrible.)
- I'm not worried though about "HIMYM" though. We just have to get through this Stella period and we'll be OK. I've heard her sister is getting married, and that's going to bring back the father of Stella's daughter, and of course that will make Ted weird; but if we can get through all of that, we'll be OK.
Wow, I was randomly harsh on "HIMYM" today. I don't even know why because I really enjoyed having the shows back on the air and had a great time watching them. I guess I'm just over Stella as a time-stalling plot device and have developed such high standards for the show because it has always been that good.
Regardless, I'm so excited about the upcoming seasons for both shows. I feel like my life is already geting back to normal now that the Hour of Power has officially returned.
All that's left is "The Office".
Only two more days...
- Josh Mahler
*POSTING NOTE: I'm going to try to find some time today to watch the series debut of "Worst Week" and will post some quick thoughts on that either later tonight or first thing tomorrow. Also keep watching for new music and DVD reviews this week as well.
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1 comments:
Right on my friend! BBT was LOL-funny all the way through. I honestly thought at one point "is my constant laughing getting annoying?" but then I stopped and everyone else was laughing as well. As I said last night, it felt like the BBT writers spend all summer constructing a perfect season premier, and the HIMYM peeps were like "So Ted and Stella get engaged and Barney love Robin. Sweet. See you all in September."
Every show has its cliche' moments, but BOTH story lines were so predictable and even unbeleivable to get there. Ted doesn't know her eye color? He is a hopeless romantic. Come on. She doesn't know his favorite movie? He is a constant blabermouth. Come on. I knew the end of every scene before it happened and I wasn't even trying. I perposely DON'T do that because I WANT to get sucked in. I didn't have a chance. Even the 'alternate plot' of Marshall's unemployment was cliche'.
I'm not a fan of 'filler' episodes (although appearantly I am in love with 'quotes'), but they happen. Just not for a season premier of one of the smartest shows on television. Still an enjoyable time. Truly a victim of past success. Once Stella is gone everything will be fine.
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